<blockquote><b>Quoting *KatteyBug*:</b>" Do you, or will you, allow your children to believe in Santa, the Easter bunny, Tooth Fairy etc.? My ... [snip!] ... opinion on this? Is it "bad" to let your child believe in something that isn't real? Or do you feel that it's okay and why?"</blockquote>

There is soooo much fun and joy in celebrating the non-religious aspect of those holidays plus things like the tooth fairy. I'd do it no other way. I LOVE it.

Lol. My daughter just told me she wants to be an elf when she grows up.

Believing in Santa is great for stimulating the imagination and creativity.
There are countless wonderful lessons and opportunities for teaching around these holidays.
The Elf on the Shelf greatly helped us have our toddler stay in bed during the night. It was awesome.

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California8675 posts

26th Feb '13

Yes, I will and I let my kids believe in all those things. Is not bad at all when they are old enough and realize they are not real then thats good but in the meantime my kids will be kids. Is fun and is not hurting anybody like I said when they are old enough they everything will all make sense. Why take that fun part of being a child an being innocent. I feel that if you didnt grew up believing in any of them you lost out. :(

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California8675 posts

26th Feb '13

<blockquote><b>Quoting Onalee's Mummy:</b>" Yes we do. I love her imagination when it comes to those things and she loves it so much"</blockquote>

This!! Plus I get carried away in their imagination too and makes me remember when I was a child. So many beautiful memories. Is fun to dream and let your imagination wonder.

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California8675 posts

26th Feb '13

<blockquote><b>Quoting kr.r:</b>" I do think it's bad. It's lying. I understand it's a small/harmless lie, but if I want to teach DS that ... [snip!] ... if I want to teach DS that dishonesty is not alright, I have no business lying to him about made up things like Santa Claus."</blockquote>

Get out of here.lol smh a child is a child for not long. Why make them smart alecks and tell them all those are not real then they feel confident to ruin it for the kids that do believe. oh this and that is not real my parents buy the presents. Oh I just hate that.

Quoting kr.r:" I do think it's bad. It's lying. I understand it's a small/harmless lie, but if I want to teach DS that ... [snip!] ... if I want to teach DS that dishonesty is not alright, I have no business lying to him about made up things like Santa Claus."

That is how my mom feels about it. But I feel like I missed out on some of the fun, and I don't want that for my daughter. I think it's alright as long as she knows the real reason behind the holiday(s). For our family meaning the birth of Jesus. I don't really see a problem with letting her have an imagination while she's young, and if she's anything like my husband was, she's gonna figure it out by the time she's like 5 anyway.

No. We feel "Santa" and the "Easter bunny" takes the focus off of the real meaning of Christmas. I know it did when I was a kid. My parents were Christians(Mom and Stepdad, anyway) and when it was Christmas time, instead of focusing on celebrating Jesus' birth, all I ever thought about was how "Santa" is bringing me presents. And When DH was a kid and learned there was no Santa, it shook his faith and he stopped believing in God until he was 17 and become a born-again Christian. For those reasons, we will never tell our kids a lie.
Also, part of the 10 commandments is "Thou Shalt Not Lie".
Not "Thou shalt not lie... except for Santa"

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California8675 posts

26th Feb '13

<blockquote><b>Quoting Lady GooGoo™:</b>" No. We feel "Santa" and the "Easter bunny" takes the focus off of the real meaning of Christmas. I know ... [snip!] ... tell our kids a lie. Also, part of the 10 commandments is "Thou Shalt Not Lie". Not "Thou shalt not lie... except for Santa""</blockquote>

Omg by letting them believe doesnt mean you cant show them the true meaning of christmas or easter and by doing so is not taking anything away. Dont act like you never ever lied. Lets say that you are having sex and closed the door are you going to say the truth to your kids if they asked why you closed the door?

And for your dh to stop believing in God is another thing his parents were not teaching him right. Who is to say you will do the same as his parents.

<blockquote><b>Quoting ~GAGA DRAMA~:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting kr.r:</b>" I do think it's bad. It's lying. I understand it's ... [snip!] ... to ruin it for the kids that do believe. oh this and that is not real my parents buy the presents. Oh I just hate that."</blockquote>

Not everyone has to tell their kids Santa is real and make them believe that's the guy who brings them presents. Why is it such a big deal to you that every kid believes in that stuff?

<blockquote><b>Quoting *KatteyBug*:</b>" That is how my mom feels about it. But I feel like I missed out on some of the fun, and I don't want ... [snip!] ... while she's young, and if she's anything like my husband was, she's gonna figure it out by the time she's like 5 anyway."</blockquote>

To each their own. I would just never be the one to tell my son Santa is real, but obviously I won't be the only person he talks to so I'm sure he'll hear things about him elsewhere.

I always thought the whole Santa thing was strange, even as a kid. I knew he wasn't real and thought it was odd that parents would lie just so they could put some other guy's name on their kid's presents. I understand it's not harming the kid to let them believe in false stuff like that, but it still never made sense to me.

We sure so believe in Santa in this house :) Christmas was made so magical for me and i'll be making sure it's the same for my kids. I don't know own person who was mad at their parents for lying about Santa. Everyone i've spoken to has been glad their parents lied, as it was magical :)

The look on my youngest face when she thought Santa had thrown a toy down the chimney on xmas eve was priceless. My heart just melted at her reaction :)